The Greatest Book Ever Written
Course 1 of 4

Theme of the Bible

The Bible has a purpose. It is the written communication from God to man, and God has something very important to say to us. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2). Since the Bible reveals that faith is essential to our salvation, it is vitally important that we read God’s message to man. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

The first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis, is the book of beginnings. The first two chapters tell us of God’s creation of the world, including the creation of man. Adam and Eve were the first man and woman, and they lived in the Garden of Eden. The Garden was a paradise on earth, a beautiful place with no corruption or death. Then Adam and Eve sinned, resulting in spiritual death and separation from God. Physical death entered into the world and they were cast out of the Garden. God has told us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23). Adam and Eve were the first sinners, and since that time, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). When man sins, he separates himself from God.

All hope is not lost, for in Genesis 3:15 we find the first prophecy of the coming Christ. God does not want anyone to be lost. In 2 Peter 3:9 we find, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God’s plan for redeeming man centers on Jesus Christ who came down from heaven, lived a sinless life, and died for the sins of the world. In so doing, Jesus tasted death for every man in order to pay the price for sin. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).

The Old Testament follows the descendants of Abraham through whom the Christ would come. These descendants became known as the children of Israel, the Hebrews, or the Jews. God took these people, set them apart, and gave them a law that they were to follow. During the years that the children of Israel lived in the land of Canaan, they were to be looking for the Christ who would deliver them from the bondage of sin. The prophets (Isaiah through Malachi) prophesied often of the Christ. Unfortunately, the children of Israel rebelled against God. Yet God, continuing to demonstrate His love for mankind, kept His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. This is where the New Testament begins. The first four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, give us biographical accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. They show conclusively that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and promises. He is the Savior of the world, and by His life and death, offers salvation to everyone who will believe and obey His word. Hebrews 5:8-9 tells us, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

The book of Acts gives the history of the early church of Christ. Jesus had promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), and Acts 2 gives the account of its establishment. The word “church” simply means “the called out,” and it refers to God’s people who have been called out of sin and darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (2 Thessalonians 2:14, Colossians 1:13). The rest of the New Testament (Romans through Revelation) are letters written to churches and individual Christians instructing them further in the way of God.

The Bible is the complete written revelation of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we find, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is the objective standard by which we will be judged. The Lord said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Everything that we teach, believe, and practice must be found in God’s inspired word. This is the premise upon which we will build all of our lessons in this series. If not, we would simply be groping in the realm of man’s insufficiencies. “Oh Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

CAN I BE SAVED?

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice you can be saved from your sins and enjoy the promised hope of eternal life in heaven. Paul wrote of Christ in Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” In order for you to be saved from your sins and have this hope, you must comply with the conditions that God has set forth in His word. Remember, the only way that we know we are right is if we follow what God says. The only way that we can know we are saved is by looking to His word. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).

We cannot know we are saved based upon our own feelings, but only by God’s word. How? We find out what God says, do that, and we have the promise of eternal life. It is that simple. We must realize that Jesus taught that the way to heaven is narrow and there are few who find it. The way to hell is wide and there are many who find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Let us study together as we strive to walk the narrow way.

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